Distributor-testing device



v Feb. 12, 1929.. I

C. KUPPERS DISTRIBUTOR TESTING DEVICE Filed May 1928 Patented Feb. 12,1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL KUPPERS, 0F ASTORIA, NEW YORK.

DISTRIBUTOR-TESTING DEVICE.

Application filed May 2,

This invention relates to testing devices for determining if anautomobile distributor is functioning properly to produce a spark ineach cylinder of an automobile.

In shooting trouble about an automobile, it is often necessary toinvestigate and test the distributor to determine whether it isfunctioning properly. However, heretofore, the methods used for such apurpose have poven inconvenient and laborious and unsatlsfactory tounskilled persons.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device by which it may bereadily determined whether a distributor is functioning properly toproduce a spark in each cylinder.

It is a further object to provide a testing device of the characterindicated which may I be conveniently mounted on the dashboard of anautomobile and which may be readil manipulated by unskilled persons.

These and other objects are attained by the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and shown inthe accompanying drawing, constituting a material part of thisdisclosure, and in which Figure 1 is a front view of the device.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view.

Figure 3 is a rear View of the device.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the manner inwhich leads froma distributor are connected to the device.

Referring to the drawings, the device is shown to comprise a block 6 ofinsulating material to which are connected the conducting bars 7 bymeans of contact screws 8, there being a conducting bar 7 for eachcylinder of the automobile. To each bar 7 is connected, by means of ascrew 9, a lead wire 10, which is also connected to the distributor capat the same place, corresponding wires are connected which lead to thevarious cylinders of an automobile.

A shaft 11 is rotatably mounted in the block 6 and is provided with aknob 12 at one end, the other end of the shaft having connected theretoa spring contact finger 13, the latter being held to the shaft by meansof the nut 14. At the outer end of the contact finger 13 is a contactbutton 15 which is adapted to engage the contact screws 8. Resting uponthe shaft 11, in a recess in the 1928. Serial N0. 274,419.

block 6, is a metal block 16 engaged by a spring 17, the upper end ofthe spring pressing against a metal cup 18 which supports a vacuum tube19, the latter being visible through an aperture 23 in the face of block6.

The upper end of the vacuum tube 19 rests in a second metal cup 20, thelatter being engaged by a recessed metal nut 21, threaded in the upperportion of block 6. The metal nut 21 is grounded by means of a wire 22connected thereto.

In operation, the finger 13 is moved so that contact will be made witheach of the contact screws 8, and if the distributor is functioningproperly a spark will be produced in the vacuum tube and will be visiblethrough the aperture 23. If no spark is produced when the finger is incontact with a specified contact screw, then the operator knows at oncethe exact location of the trouble and need not spend time searchingelsewhere.

From the above description, it will be seen that I have produced asimple testing device which may be conveniently located and easilymanipulated to determine the functioning of a distributor.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive andillustrative only and not as restrictive or limitative of the invention,of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed, including manymodifications,

without departing from the general scope herein indicated and denoted inthe appended claim. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

A testing device for distributors comprising a block of insulatingmaterial having a. recess therein, a vacuum tube positioned in therecess, metal cups at each end of the vacuum tube, a shaft rotatablymounted in the block, a spring contact finger connected to the shaft, aplurality of contact screws mounted on the block, each screw beingconnected to a distributor, a metal plug engaging one of the metal cups,said plug being grounded, means for connecting the other metal cup withthe shaft, and means for rotating the shaft to move the finger incontact with the contact screws.

In witness whereof I have affixed my signature.

CARL KUPPERS.

